Janosh's S/C'd Mustang

[Janosh]

I spent the last couple of weeks doing some significant research on everyone’s favourite topic: which oil is best for my car?

It’s a little confusing when looking at FI Mustangs as the OEM recommendation is 5w20 whereas the tuners often recommend 5w50 once supercharged… a big difference!

Having spoken to a few specialists, I landed on Millers 5w40 as a good balance for my build and driving.

I’m also adding a magnetic sump plug as I think it’s a sensible additional protection for £15!

[Janosh]

I also replaced the cabin filter which I assume has been there since new…



The little jobs are sometimes the most satisfying!

[C5_Steve]

Just found this thread, lovely looking Mustang! I have to say though I think I preferred it with the old bonnet looks great either way.

How have you found it compared to your old VXR8?

[Janosh]

Thanks! I just couldn’t resolve stick on vents and scoops… I would have kept it / them if the vents were functional.

Compared to my old VXR8, it’s obviously a smaller coupe and manual. The shape, driving position and gear shifting engagement make each drive more of an event.

The Mustang is much faster & more agile, 3rd gear is savage and peeling out of junctions is great fun!

Being a newer car has so far made tinkering much more fun: less seized bolts & less corrosion that you pretend not to see.

The downsides are practicality: my children are squashed into the back seats and I can’t load bikes into the boot like I used to.

I do wonder if my perfect car would be a lower mileage manual supercharged VXR8…

[C5_Steve]

Janosh said:

Thanks! I just couldn’t resolve stick on vents and scoops… I would have kept it / them if the vents were functional.

Compared to my old VXR8, it’s obviously a smaller coupe and manual. The shape, driving position and gear shifting engagement make each drive more of an event.

The Mustang is much faster & more agile, 3rd gear is savage and peeling out of junctions is great fun!

Being a newer car has so far made tinkering much more fun: less seized bolts & less corrosion that you pretend not to see.

The downsides are practicality: my children are squashed into the back seats and I can’t load bikes into the boot like I used to.

I do wonder if my perfect car would be a lower mileage manual supercharged VXR8…

Ah didn't realise the scoops weren't functional; 100% right to bin it off then. Same as you I can't stand fake vents.

A supercharged VXR8 would tick a lot of boxes but good to get the V8 experience in something with 2 doors and nice to try both the GM and Ford side of things I guess!

[Janosh]

After a good run down to Goodwood for the Supercar Sunday breakfast club, my mate with the M3 suggested that the front end was missing a badge… looked a bit unfinished?


So here she is with a new badge…



Yay or nay?!

[rallye101]

Swear I've seen this around Guildford area quite a lot recently, is/was that an aftermarket bonnet scoop?

[C5_Steve]

Janosh said:

After a good run down to Goodwood for the Supercar Sunday breakfast club, my mate with the M3 suggested that the front end was missing a badge… looked a bit unfinished?


So here she is with a new badge…



Yay or nay?!

Neigh

[Janosh]

rallye101 said:

Swear I've seen this around Guildford area quite a lot recently, is/was that an aftermarket bonnet scoop?

You may well have seen me in Guildford, I’m occasionally there on weekends.

It was a Roush scoop, but non-functional so not my cup of tea.

[rallye101]

Janosh said:

You may well have seen me in Guildford, I’m occasionally there on weekends.

It was a Roush scoop, but non-functional so not my cup of tea.

Looks miles better with out stripes and scoop....and like the badge too

[Janosh]

rallye101 said:

Looks miles better with out stripes and scoop....and like the badge too

Thanks

[Janosh]

The offset and weight of the 20” wheels never quite sat right so I decided to source some Project6 GR 7 spokes which are a bespoke wheel for the S550 Mustang.
They should be significantly lighter and won’t need any spacers or spigot rings to fit correctly. As a bonus I’ll be able to go a little wider on the rubber!

The new wheels will be:
11x19 rear with 305/35/19
10x19 front with 275/35/19

[Janosh]

Here she is wearing her new shoes

[C5_Steve]

Janosh said:

Here she is wearing her new shoes

Very nice! They have a similar design to the carbon fibre GT500 wheels.

[Janosh]

I’ve read lots about the benefits of smaller and lightweight wheels over the years but today was the day that it all suddenly made sense.

The new wheels have transformed the car, both ride and handling are significantly improved… super happy!

[Janosh]

Lightly scraped the splitter this morning so had a quick tinker to raise the front ride height by 5mm to offset the drop from 20’s to 19’s.

Hopefully that’ll be enough extra clearance to clear any speed bumps and other lumps!

[Janosh]

Lovely evening for a blast with this rare beast

[Janosh]

I decided to give the air filter a clean today, it’s the first time I’ve come across a ‘dry’ filter. Super easy process: soak, rinse, dry, refit.

[Janosh]

Plugs were next up for inspection.. they all looked healthy when removed, but I discovered that they’re the oem plugs which should have been swapped out for a step colder..





Gapped to 0.85

[Janosh]

The Mustang service schedule for the gearbox suggests changing the oil ever 150,000 miles!

At 42,000 I decided it’s probably worth having a look…

Here’s the kit:



2x 8mm Allen bolts



And out comes the horrible oil that according to Ford would be good for another 110,000 miles… madness.